Anvil buttress loading unit for a surgical stapling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A surgical stapling system includes a surgical stapling apparatus and a buttress loading unit. The surgical stapling apparatus includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member configured to fasten tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. The buttress loading unit includes a loader and a clip supported in the loader. The loader and the clip support a release strap and a buttress. The clip is configured to selectively attach the release strap and the buttress to the first jaw member when the loader is positioned on the first jaw member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to surgical stapling systems and more particularly, to an anvil buttress loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Surgical stapling apparatus are employed by surgeons to sequentially or simultaneously apply one or more rows of fasteners, e.g., staples or two-part fasteners, to body tissue for the purpose of joining segments of body tissue together. Such apparatus generally include a pair of jaws or finger-like structures between which the body tissue to be joined is placed. When the surgical stapling apparatus is actuated, or “fired,” staple drive members in one of the jaws push the surgical staples through the body tissue and into an anvil in the opposite jaw which forms the staples. If body tissue is to be removed or separated, a knife blade can be provided in one of the jaws of the apparatus to cut the body tissue between the lines of staples.

Surgical supports, e.g., meshes or buttress materials, may be used in combination with surgical stapling apparatus to bridge, repair, and/or reinforce tissue defects within a patient such as those occurring, for example, in the abdominal wall, chest wall, diaphragm, or musculo-aponeurotic areas of the body. The buttress material reinforces the staple line as well as covers the juncture of the tissues to reduce leakage prior to healing. The buttress material can help promote proper staple formation while reducing twisting/malformation caused by any misalignment of tissue and/or unusual or non-uniform tissue. The buttress material can also provide support to weakened tissue, or help address differences in the thickness of tissues.

Accordingly, buttress materials provide clinical benefits. Nonetheless, improvements are desired, for example, to reduce the complexity of manufacture and/or application of the buttress materials onto surgical stapling apparatus or into tissue, or to expand the range of application for use of the buttress materials.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of this disclosure, a surgical stapling system includes a surgical stapling apparatus and a buttress loading unit. The surgical stapling apparatus includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member configured to fasten tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. The buttress loading unit includes a loader and a clip supported in the loader. The loader and the clip support a release strap and a buttress. The clip is configured to selectively attach the release strap and the buttress to the first jaw member when the loader is positioned on the first jaw member.

In embodiments, the clip may include a catch assembly that secures the clip to the first jaw member. The catch assembly may include a support arm and a tab that is movably positioned relative to the support arm. The first jaw member may define a support slot positioned to receive the support arm and the tab of the catch assembly. The tab may include a catch that is selectively engagable with a catch aperture defined the first jaw member. The catch aperture may be disposed in registration with the support slot. The first jaw member may be an anvil assembly.

In various embodiments, the release strap may include an elongated portion that extends from a detent assembly. The elongated portion may be positioned to couple to the clip. The detent assembly may be positioned to couple to the loader. The buttress may include a first end portion that couples to the loader and a second end portion that couples to the clip. The detent assembly of the release strap may be configured to couple to the buttress to secure the release strap to the buttress.

According to another aspect of this disclosure, a buttress loading unit includes a buttress, a release strap, and a loader configured to support the buttress and the release strap for selective attachment of the buttress and the release strap to a jaw member of a surgical stapling apparatus. The loader has a first end portion including a first lance that releasably couples to the buttress and a second lance that releasably couples to the release strap. The loader has a second end portion supporting a clip. The clip is positioned to releasably secure the release strap and the buttress to the second end portion of the loader.

In embodiments, the buttress may define a lance slot in a proximal end portion thereof for receiving the first lance of the loader. The buttress may include an arch on a distal end portion thereof. The arch may define a distal opening that is positioned to receive a tongue of the clip to secure the buttress to the clip. The clip may define a plurality of apertures therethrough. The plurality of apertures may be positioned to receive an elongated portion of the release strap. The elongated portion of the release strap may be positionable through the distal opening of the buttress.

In various embodiments, the first and second lances may be longitudinally offset from one another.

In some embodiments, the release strap may include a detent assembly having a plurality of detents and the buttress may include a plurality of side slots positioned to receive the plurality of detents to couple the release strap to the buttress.

According to still another aspect of this disclosure, a surgical buttress loader for securing a release strap and a buttress to an end effector of a surgical stapling apparatus is provided. The surgical buttress loader includes an elongated body having a strap support portion and a buttress support portion that extend from a proximal end portion of the elongated body. The strap support portion includes a strap lance that extends proximally from the strap support portion. The buttress support portion includes a buttress lance that extends proximally from the buttress support portion. The strap lance is configured to releasably secure the release strap to the strap support portion. The buttress lance is configured to releasably secure the buttress to the buttress support portion.

In embodiments, the elongated body may define a passageway between the strap support portion and the buttress support portion for receiving the buttress and the release strap therethrough. The passageway may open distally through an aperture defined by the elongated body. The aperture may be configured to receive a clip that secures the buttress and the release strap to the elongated body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of this disclosure will be apparent in light of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of a surgical stapling system including a surgical stapling apparatus and an anvil buttress loading unit in accordance with the principles of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the anvil buttress loading unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the anvil buttress loading unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged, perspective views of a distal clip of the anvil buttress loading unit shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, perspective view of a release strap and a buttress of the anvil buttress loading unit shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of the anvil buttress loading unit as taken along section line 7-7 shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged views of the indicated areas of detail shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the anvil buttress loading unit and an end effector of the surgical stapling apparatus;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, perspective view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the anvil buttress loading unit positioned on an anvil assembly of the end effector;

FIG. 13 is a side, cross-sectional view of the anvil buttress loading unit on the anvil assembly as taken along section line 13-13 shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a loader of the anvil buttress loading unit separated from the anvil assembly of the end effector with the release strap and the buttress supported on the anvil assembly; and

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. Throughout this description, the term “proximal” refers to a portion of a structure, or component thereof, that is closer to a user, and the term “distal” refers to a portion of the structure, or component thereof, that is farther from the user. Directional reference terms, such as “top,” “bottom,” “side,” and the like, are used to ease description of the embodiments and are not intended to have any limiting effect on the ultimate orientation of a structure or any part thereof. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring this disclosure in unnecessary detail.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a surgical stapling system 5, in accordance with this disclosure, includes a surgical stapling apparatus or surgical stapler 10 and an anvil buttress loading unit 100 for use in stapling tissue and applying one or more buttress materials or surgical buttresses to the tissue. The surgical stapling apparatus 10 generally includes a handle assembly 12 and an elongated tubular body portion 14 that extends distally from the handle assembly 12. The elongated tubular body portion 14 may include a surgical loading unit 16 that is selectively attachable to the elongated tubular body portion 14. An end effector or jaw assembly 18 extends distally from the elongated tubular body portion 14 (e.g., a distal end portion of the surgical loading unit 16). The jaw assembly 18 includes an anvil assembly 20 and a staple cartridge assembly 22. The jaw assembly 18 may be permanently affixed to the elongated tubular body portion 14 or may be detachable with respect to the elongated tubular body portion 14 and thus, replaceable with a new jaw assembly 18. The anvil assembly 20 and/or the staple cartridge assembly 22 is pivotable with respect to the elongated tubular body portion 14 such that the anvil and/or staple cartridge assemblies 20, 22 is/are movable between an open position in which the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 20, 22 are spaced apart with respect to each other and a closed position in which the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 20, 22 are substantially adjacent each other.

The handle assembly 12 of the surgical stapling apparatus 10 includes a stationary handle member 12 a, a movable handle member 12 b, and a barrel portion 12 c. An articulation lever 12 d is mounted on a forward end of the barrel portion 12 c to facilitate articulation of the jaw assembly 18. A rotatable member 12 e is also mounted on the forward end of the barrel portion 12 c, adjacent the articulation lever 12 d. Rotation of the rotatable member 12 e relative to the barrel portion 12 c rotates the elongated tubular body portion 14 and the jaw assembly 18 relative to the handle assembly 12 so as to properly orient the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 20, 22 relative to tissue to be stapled. A knob 12 f is movably positionable along the barrel portion 12 c. The knob 12 f is advanced distally to approximate or close the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 20, 22, relative to each other, and retracted proximally to unapproximate or open the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 20, 22, with respect to each other. Actuation of the movable handle member 12 b applies lines of staples (not shown) to tissue captured between the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 20, 22.

For a detailed description of the structure and function of exemplary surgical stapling apparatus, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,256,656, 7,819,896, and 7,128,253 as well as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/387,882, filed Apr. 18, 2019, the entire contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. It should be appreciated that principles of this disclosure are equally applicable to surgical stapling apparatus having other configurations such as, for example, the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,334,717, 5,964,394, and 5,915,616, the entire contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Accordingly, it should be understood that a variety of surgical stapling apparatus may be utilized with the surgical buttresses and/or surgical buttress applicators or loaders of this disclosure such as, for example, laparoscopic staplers, open staplers, transverse anastomosis staplers, and end-to-end anastomosis staplers having a circular staple cartridge and anvil, as well as staple cartridge assemblies housing surgical fasteners other than staples.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-9, buttress loading unit 100, which may be in the form of a linear anvil buttress loading unit, includes a loader 110, a clip 120, a buttress 130, and a release strap 140.

Loader 110 of buttress loading unit 100 includes an elongated body 112 having a strap support portion 114 and a buttress support portion 116 that extend from a proximal end portion of elongated body 112. Strap support portion 114 of elongated body 112 includes a strap lance 114 a that extends proximally from strap support portion 114 to retain release strap 140. Buttress support portion 116 includes a buttress lance 116 a that extends proximally from buttress support portion 116 to retain buttress 130 and which is longitudinally offset from strap lance 114 a. A pair of fingers 118 extends from a distal end portion of elongated body 112 to support clip 120 within elongated body 112. Elongated body 112 further defines a passageway 115 therethrough for supporting buttress 130, release strap 140, and clip 120 within elongated body 112. Passageway 115 opens distally through an aperture 115 a extending between the pair of fingers 118 for receiving a portion of clip 120 therethrough.

Clip 120 of buttress loading unit 100 is selectively attachable to anvil assembly 20 of end effector 18. Clip 120 includes a clip body 122 having wings 124 that extend laterally from the sides of clip body 122 and a tongue 126 that extends distally from clip body 122. Clip body 122 defines a body aperture 122 a through an upper surface 122U of clip body 122. Clip body 122 includes a guide ramp 122 b disposed in registration with the body aperture 122 a. Tongue 126 includes a proximal tongue aperture 126 a that extends through upper and lower surfaces 122U, 122L of clip body 122 and a distal tongue aperture 126 b that extends distally through an end face 126 f of tongue 126 (see FIG. 9). Distal and proximal tongue apertures 126 a, 126 b are in fluid communication with one another and with body aperture 122 a of clip body 122 to enable release strap 140 to be passed (e.g., folded and thread) therethrough as seen in FIG. 9. Clip body 122 further includes a catch assembly 128 that extends proximally from clip body 122. Catch assembly 128 includes a support arm 128 a rigidly secured to clip body 122 and a tab 128 b that is flexibly coupled to clip body 122 (e.g., cantilevered) and spaced from support arm 128 a by a gap 128 c so that tab 128 b can selectively flex from a first or permanent position (as shown in FIG. 5), to a second or temporary position into gap 128 c (not shown), as indicated by arrow “A.” Tab 128 b is configured to bias toward the first position. Tab 128 b supports a catch 128 d, which, although shown as having a rounded configuration, can have any suitable shape or configuration (e.g., cylindrical, hook, triangular, etc.).

Buttress 130 of buttress loading unit 100 is also selectively attachable to anvil assembly 20 of end effector 18. Buttress 130 includes a buttress body 132 having side arms 134 extending laterally from opposite sides of buttress body 132. Side arms 134 define a plurality of side slots 134 a. The side slots 134 a are longitudinally spaced apart from one another along side arms 134. Buttress body 132 defines a lance slot 132 a through a proximal end portion of buttress body 132 for receiving buttress lance 116 a of loader 110 therein. Buttress body 132 further includes a distal arch 136 supported on a distal end portion of buttress body 132. Distal arch 136 defines a distal opening 136 a that extends through the distal end portion of buttress body 132.

The surgical buttresses of this disclosure may be fabricated from biocompatible materials which are bioabsorbable or non-absorbable, natural or synthetic materials. It should be understood that any combination of natural, synthetic, bioabsorbable, and/or non-bioabsorbable materials may be used to form the surgical buttresses. The surgical buttresses may be biodegradable (e.g., formed from bioabsorbable and bioresorable materials) such that the surgical buttresses decompose or are broken down (physically or chemically) under physiological conditions in the body, and the degradation products are excretable or absorbable by the body. Components or portions of the surgical buttresses may be formed from the same material or different materials.

In embodiments, at least a portion of the surgical buttresses are made from biodegradable materials selected from the following group: natural collagenous materials, cat gut, and synthetic resins including those derived from alkylene carbonates, trimethylene carbonate, tetramethylene carbonate, caprolactone, valerolactone, dioxanone, polyanhydrides, polyesters, polyacrylates, polymethylmethacrylates, polyurethanes, glycolic acid, lactic acid, glycolide, lactide, polyhydroxy butyrates, polyorthoester, polyhydroxy alkanoates, homopolymers thereof, and copolymers thereof. In embodiments, at least a portion of the surgical buttresses may be made from non-biodegradable materials selected from the following group: polyolefins, polyethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polypropylene, copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene, blends of polyethylene and polypropylene, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polyamides, polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyether-esters, polybutester, polytetramethylene ether glycol, 1,4-butanediol, and polyurethanes.

The surgical buttresses may be porous, non-porous, or combinations thereof. Suitable porous structures include, for example, fibrous structures (e.g., knitted structures, woven structures, and non-woven structures) and/or foams (e.g., open or closed cell foams). Suitable non-porous structures include, for example, films. The surgical buttresses, or portions thereof, may be a non-woven structure formed by melt-blown or melt-spun methods, a mesh material, a braid material, and/or a molded or extruded sheet. The surgical buttresses, or portions thereof, may be a single porous or non-porous layer, or include a plurality of layers including any combination of porous and/or non-porous layers.

The surgical buttresses may be provided and/or sold as part of the buttress loading unit. Alternatively, the surgical buttress(es) and the buttress loading unit may be provided and/or sold separately and assembled by the user. In embodiments, one or more surgical buttresses and one or more buttress loading units are provided in a kit. In some embodiments, the kit further includes one or more end effectors (and/or surgical loading units) and, in certain embodiments, the kit further includes a surgical stapler.

In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the surgical buttresses can include, or be used with, brachytherapy, chemotherapy, other medical materials or pharmaceuticals. The buttress portion of the surgical buttress can have pockets, apertures, or other features for retaining brachytherapy seeds with the buttress portion, or brachytherapy seeds or materials can be incorporated into a suture or sutures that are threaded into or through the buttress portion or otherwise attached thereto. A coating having brachytherapy materials can be applied to a buttress portion of a surgical buttress by spraying or dipping. Chemotherapy pharmaceuticals or agents can be incorporated into the buttress portion of the surgical buttress, coated thereon, or otherwise applied as part of a suture or other feature secured to the buttress portion.

Release strap 140 of buttress loading unit 100 includes an elongated portion 142 that extends proximally to a detent assembly 144 configured to releasably secure buttress 130 to the anvil assembly 20 of end effector 18. Detent assembly 144 includes a detent body portion 146 having a plurality of detents 146 a supported on opposed sides of the detent body portion 146 that are selectively receivable by side slots 134 a of buttress 130 to secure release strap 140 and buttress 130 together (see FIG. 6). Detent body portion 146 defines a lance slot 148 in a proximal end portion thereof for receiving strap lance 114 a of loader 110 therein.

With reference to FIGS. 10-16, anvil assembly 20 of end effector 18 defines a support slot 20 a and a catch aperture 20 b in a distal end portion thereof for receiving catch assembly 128 of clip 120. Support slot 20 a of anvil assembly 20 receives catch assembly 128 therein as anvil loading unit 100 is advanced over anvil assembly 20 in a proximal direction relative to anvil assembly 20, as indicated by arrow “P” (FIG. 12), so that tab 128 b of clip 120 flexes downwardly into gap 128 c (e.g., the second position of tab 128 b) toward support arm 128 a of clip 120 in response to an inner surface 20 c of anvil assembly 20 engaging catch 128 d. Continued proximal advancement of clip 120 causes catch 128 d of clip 120 to cam along inner surface 20 c of anvil assembly 20 until catch 128 d extends into catch aperture 20 b so that tab 128 b can flex back to the first position of tab 128 b, as indicated by arrow “B,” and catch 128 d secures clip 120 to anvil assembly 20 by virtue of catch aperture 20 b.

With clip 120 of buttress loading unit 100 secured to anvil assembly 20, and release strap 140 and buttress 130 secured to clip 120 and anvil assembly 20, loader 110 of anvil buttress loading unit 100 can be moved in a distal direction relative to anvil assembly 20, clip 120, release strap 140, and buttress 130, as indicated by arrow “D” shown in FIG. 15. Continued distal movement of loader 110 relative to anvil assembly 20 causes loader 110 to separate from anvil assembly 20, clip 120, release strap 140, and buttress 130 so that end effector 18 with release strap 140 and buttress 130 can be utilized to secure buttress 130 to tissue by fasteners (not shown) supported in cartridge assembly 22. Once fastening is complete, anvil assembly 20 can be removed with release strap 140 attached so that anvil assembly 20 can be pulled away from buttress 130 while buttress 130 remains attached to the tissue. After pulling out the remaining portions of release strap 140, the process can be repeated as desired. For a more detailed description of exemplary tissue fastening with similar surgical stapling apparatus having release straps and buttresses, reference can be made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/387,882, filed Apr. 18, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. It is to be understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the precise embodiments described, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Additionally, the elements and features shown and described in connection with certain embodiments may be combined with the elements and features of certain other embodiments without departing from the scope of this disclosure, and that such modifications and variation are also included within the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A surgical stapling system comprising: a surgical stapling apparatus including a first jaw member and a second jaw member configured to fasten tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members; and a buttress loading unit including a loader and a clip supported in the loader, the loader and the clip supporting a release strap and a buttress, the clip configured to selectively attach the release strap and the buttress to the first jaw member when the loader is positioned on the first jaw member.
 2. The surgical stapling system of claim 1, wherein the clip includes a catch assembly that secures the clip to the first jaw member.
 3. The surgical stapling system of claim 2, wherein the catch assembly includes a support arm and a tab that is movably positioned relative to the support arm.
 4. The surgical stapling system of claim 3, wherein the first jaw member defines a support slot positioned to receive the support arm and the tab of the catch assembly.
 5. The surgical stapling system of claim 4, wherein the tab includes a catch that is selectively engagable with a catch aperture defined the first jaw member.
 6. The surgical stapling system of claim 5, wherein the catch aperture is disposed in registration with the support slot.
 7. The surgical stapling system of claim 6, wherein the first jaw member is an anvil assembly.
 8. The surgical stapling system of claim 1, wherein the release strap includes an elongated portion that extends from a detent assembly, the elongated portion positioned to couple to the clip, the detent assembly positioned to couple to the loader.
 9. The surgical stapling system of claim 8, wherein the buttress includes a first end portion that couples to the loader and a second end portion that couples to the clip.
 10. The surgical stapling system of claim 8, wherein the detent assembly of the release strap is configured to couple to the buttress to secure the release strap to the buttress.
 11. A buttress loading unit comprising: a buttress; a release strap; and a loader configured to support the buttress and the release strap for selective attachment of the buttress and the release strap to a jaw member of a surgical stapling apparatus, the loader having a first end portion including a first lance that releasably couples to the buttress and a second lance that releasably couples to the release strap, the loader having a second end portion supporting a clip, the clip positioned to releasably secure the release strap and the buttress to the second end portion of the loader.
 12. The buttress loading unit of claim 11, wherein the buttress defines a lance slot in a proximal end portion thereof for receiving the first lance of the loader.
 13. The buttress loading unit of claim 12, wherein the buttress includes an arch on a distal end portion thereof, the arch defining a distal opening that is positioned to receive a tongue of the clip to secure the buttress to the clip.
 14. The buttress loading unit of claim 13, wherein the clip defines a plurality of apertures therethrough, the plurality of apertures positioned to receive an elongated portion of the release strap.
 15. The buttress loading unit of claim 14, wherein the elongated portion of the release strap is positionable through the distal opening of the buttress.
 16. The buttress loading unit of claim 11, wherein the first and second lances are longitudinally offset from one another.
 17. The buttress loading unit of 11, wherein the release strap includes a detent assembly having a plurality of detents and the buttress includes a plurality of side slots positioned to receive the plurality of detents to couple the release strap to the buttress.
 18. A surgical buttress loader for securing a release strap and a buttress to an end effector of a surgical stapling apparatus, the surgical buttress loader comprising: an elongated body having a strap support portion and a buttress support portion that extend from a proximal end portion of the elongated body, the strap support portion including a strap lance that extends proximally from the strap support portion, the buttress support portion including a buttress lance that extends proximally from the buttress support portion, the strap lance configured to releasably secure the release strap to the strap support portion, the buttress lance configured to releasably secure the buttress to the buttress support portion.
 19. The surgical buttress loader of claim 18, wherein the elongated body defines a passageway between the strap support portion and the buttress support portion for receiving the buttress and the release strap therethrough.
 20. The surgical buttress loader of claim 19, wherein the passageway opens distally through an aperture defined by the elongated body, the aperture configured to receive a clip that secures the buttress and the release strap to the elongated body. 